Masterchef star John Torode surprises County Durham food charity with news of National Lottery award

TV chef drops in to Stanley to make announcement to delighted pensioners and volunteers

Masterchef star John Torode at Age UK County Durham to surprise volunteers from community project Come Eat Together with a National Lottery Award

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A huge surprise was on the menu for staff at a Durham food charity when celebrity chef John Torode turned up to announce they have won a National Lottery Award.

Cheers and clapping greeted the Masterchef star when the delighted volunteers and elderly users of Come Eat Together heard the news of the award for being voted Best Health Project.

They instantly recognised the famous face of the TV hit series, which he co-presents with Gregg Wallace, as he made a return visit to the East Stanley-based Age UK County Durham resource centre which he first looked around earlier this summer, when he praised its work in promoting healthy eating among local elderly residents.

Masterchef star John Torode at Age UK County Durham to surprise volunteers from community project Come Eat Together with a National Lottery Award, with Audrey James (left) and Mary Heaviside

They come along to enjoy nutritional meals cooked by volunteer chefs but the focus is as much on providing company for the many pensioners who may live alone or are lonely and many make new friends in a welcoming atmosphere.

The project won recognition through the annual search to find the nation’s favourite National Lottery-funded projects which relies on public votes. And Come Eat Together, which has received more than £1m through the Big Lottery Fund to help it develop new lunch clubs and dining circles, received 12,746 votes to top the health category - more than any other winner of the remaining six categories.

Torode interrupted the pensioners’ meal of mince and dumplings to present a trophy and tell staff and volunteers: “This is so deserving. What you are doing here is amazing.”

Volunteer Jim Jackson, 63, from Bishop Auckland, who helps with IT projects, said: “It’s a pleasant surprise to see him - and a surprise that we have won. It’s a great feeling to have been involved in it.”

The project also wins £2,000 funding which it intends to spend on developing facilities for the elderly users.

Masterchef star John Torode at Age UK County Durham to surprise volunteers from community project Come Eat Together with a National Lottery Award with Margaret Jobson (left) and Enid Dent

The chef, who mingled with diners and posed for photographs, said getting people, who may feel isolated, together in a social environment to share good food and company was “a recipe for success”.

“That’s why it’s great.”

And he hopes the idea behind it will be rolled out nationwide.

“I’m really proud of what they’ve done,” he said.

“There’s a real opportunity to do more of the kind of thing they’re doing here.”

Harriet Gibbon, chief executive of Age UK County Durham, and development manager Christine Fletcher were delighted at the success, with Christine saying the service was making a huge difference in the lives of users who range in age from 50 to 96.

Betty Mounter, a retired shop assistant who will be 90 in November, visits regularly from her home just down the street and has brought along friends to enjoy the lunches.